This morning we started with a dive on the Adolphus Bush. No current, two to four foot sea's and about 60 foot of vis. Then we steamed down to the the mighty Vandenburg. She had little current and 50 foot of vis. Boy the life is starting really take a hold of her. Lots of Barracudas and all sorts of tropical s are hanging around. Next was Jog's tug. This wreck is really stating to come apart. I have dove it in a few years and it has really changed. We ran into Robbie's Marnia and tied up for the night. Pasha fixed up a wonderful dinner with standing rib's and Tapioca, it was great. Now everyone has headed off into Key West to party on Duvial Street. We are headed back out at first light to start the new year of Diving.....
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Diving 12/30/2009
Today we started off the day with a dive on the Thunderbolt. Scuba Drew found the submerged buoy and hooked us up in short order. No current and about fifty foot of vis. The second dive of the day was on Sambrero reef. This reef has lots of life and some great corral heads. Next we hit a little patch reef looking for bugs but the vis was so bad you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. Next stop was Looe Key for some afternoon diving and we stayed there for a night dive.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Diving 12/29/2009 Trip
It was alittle chilly this morning when we got up but it turned into a great day. The wind was blowing 15 to 20 when we awoke on our anchorage. But the great thing was when we arrived at the shipwreck of the Duane the seas where only one to two and very mild current so it made a wonderful way to start the day off. This was followed by a dive on Conch wall and the Eagle shipwreck after lunch. Then we steamed over to Alligator Lighthouse to finish off the afternoon. The lighthouse made a great back drop for the sunset and we are going to do our night dive here on this great reef. Lots of life on this one turtles, sharks, and tons of conch. Well its all most time for Pasha to put out dinner, I wounder what great food she has in store for us tonight, I'm not going to tell cause it will just make you hungry and wish you where here......
Capt Scotty
Capt Scotty
Monday, December 28, 2009
Diving 12/28/2009
We had a great day of diving today. We left the dock this morning and headed out to North North for a quick dip to get all the gear set up and do our weight checks. Then it was off to the Benwood, no current and great vis. After lunch we hit the Speigel Grove for our first deep dive of the trip. After that a relaxing diving at Key Largo Dry Rocks for a afternoon dive followed by our first night dive. This was all followed by a great dinner by Miss Pasha. She cooked Pork roast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Parisian Salad, Three Cheese Broccoli, Garlic Herb Rice W/Butter Dill Salmon, Dinner Rolls and for dessert Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Now with full belly's it's time to relax and get ready for a fulll day of diving tomarrow.
Capt Scotty
Capt Scotty
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Divers seeking Atlantis in Bahamas
Divers seeking Atlantis in Bahamas
Pictured is what appears to be a maze-like series of trails off Bimini, Bahamas.
Agroup of Florida-based technical divers is poised to try to solve a New Age/ancient mystery near the island of Bimini, Bahamas, 50 miles off the South Florida coast. Gainesville-based Global Underwater Explorers -- best known for mapping massive underground springs in North Florida -- has been hired by a Virginia Beach-based non-profit group to try to uncover evidence of the Lost Continent of Atlantis.
The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) is devoted to the teachings of the late Edgar Cayce -- one of America's best-known psychics.
Dubbed the ``Sleeping Prophet,'' Cayce died more than 60 years ago after making predictions both accurate and otherwise about thousands of topics and events.
Cayce weighed in on a variety of subjects -- everything from diagnosing medical problems to detailing the effects of El Niño ocean currents on weather. One of his readings -- rendered while talking in his sleep -- was that ``Atlantis will rise near Bimini in 1969.''
In 1968, Miamian D.J. Manson Valentine was flying over the Bimini Islands when he spotted a mysterious, U-shaped stone formation in shallow water near north Bimini that has since been dubbed the ``Bimini Road.'' It was first surveyed the following year. For 40 years, A.R.E. members have been trying to prove the ``road'' might lead to the discovery of Atlantis.
REMNANTS OF CONTINENT
Cayce's readings described Atlantis as an ancient continent harboring an advanced civilization stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Gibraltar that was destroyed by an unknown catastrophe in 10,000 B.C.
According to Cayce, the Bimini Islands are remnants of a mountain range where Atlantis' leaders built a temple with a Hall of Records holding stone tablets that detailed their pre-evolutionary history. Cayce also said 12,000 gold coins were buried in the inlet that runs between the North and South Bimini Islands.
No one has found the gold -- or at least admitted to it. But the A.R.E. is still interested in finding the Hall of Records, which director John Van Auken believes might be found in waters deeper than the Bimini Road -- more like 200-300 feet deep.
Van Auken, 63, a lifelong Cayce devotee, hopes the divers from Global Underwater Explorers can unlock the secrets.
Van Auken said the explorers are expected to conduct as many as four deep-diving missions near Bimini in 2010. Van Auken expects to spend between $20,000 and $50,000, securing a large mothership as the mission base for dives using rebreathers, high-definition video and digital mapping equipment, and possibly a two-person submarine.
``From [Cayce's] psychic, deep attunement to universal consciousness, he said one of the key temples with 32 stone tablets is off the coast of Bimini at the [edge] of the Gulf Stream,'' Van Auken said.
Van Auken said previous explorations in the area -- some using high-tech methods such as sub-bottom profiling and side-scan sonar -- have shown ``unnatural features'' that appear to have been constructed by humans. He is not bothered by the taunts of Atlantis naysayers.
``We hope this will prove to be a remnant of Atlantis,'' he said. ``With archaeologists, I don't use the `A-word.' I use `pre-Ice Age culture of some sophistication.' If you use the A-word, boy, you're out.''
Robert Carmichael, CEO of Brownie's Marine Group, based in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the leaders of the GUE expedition. While Carmichael doesn't exactly buy into the Atlantis theory, he and his colleagues have observed some of the ``unnatural features'' Van Auken mentioned -- long, curving sandy trails winding through the sides of steep, underwater cliffs 200 to 300 feet deep that look like mountain switchback trails or ski runs.''
``It's hard to think that would be naturally-occurring,'' Carmichael said. ``We need to go down there and measure the pathways and accurately survey them. There are some areas that look like terraces. There are buttressed caverns on the bottom of the wall. When we do have the opportunity to go back there, we'd like to poke into those caves at 220-300 feet deep to see if there's something in there.''
ENORMOUS LAND MASS
Carmichael does not dispute the notion that humans could have occupied Bimini around the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago. During that time period, he said, with water levels 300 feet lower than now, the Bimini Islands would have been one enormous land mass. A person standing on North Bimini back then could look across the Straits of Florida and glimpse Miami.
``That would cause prehistoric man to build a boat or a canoe and see what's over there,'' he said.
Indeed, native historian Ashley Saunders wrote in his 2006 book, History of Bimini Volume 2, that there is evidence the blocks of stone at the Bimini Road are similar to dry docks or breakwaters found in ancient, drowned Mediterranean port cities. Saunders called for more exploration and research.
Van Auken is happy to oblige.
``We're looking for evidence of human-made features,'' he said. ``It's fine to not believe it. There are some of us that have this gut feeling and enjoy the search.''
The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) is devoted to the teachings of the late Edgar Cayce -- one of America's best-known psychics.
Dubbed the ``Sleeping Prophet,'' Cayce died more than 60 years ago after making predictions both accurate and otherwise about thousands of topics and events.
Cayce weighed in on a variety of subjects -- everything from diagnosing medical problems to detailing the effects of El Niño ocean currents on weather. One of his readings -- rendered while talking in his sleep -- was that ``Atlantis will rise near Bimini in 1969.''
In 1968, Miamian D.J. Manson Valentine was flying over the Bimini Islands when he spotted a mysterious, U-shaped stone formation in shallow water near north Bimini that has since been dubbed the ``Bimini Road.'' It was first surveyed the following year. For 40 years, A.R.E. members have been trying to prove the ``road'' might lead to the discovery of Atlantis.
REMNANTS OF CONTINENT
Cayce's readings described Atlantis as an ancient continent harboring an advanced civilization stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Gibraltar that was destroyed by an unknown catastrophe in 10,000 B.C.
According to Cayce, the Bimini Islands are remnants of a mountain range where Atlantis' leaders built a temple with a Hall of Records holding stone tablets that detailed their pre-evolutionary history. Cayce also said 12,000 gold coins were buried in the inlet that runs between the North and South Bimini Islands.
No one has found the gold -- or at least admitted to it. But the A.R.E. is still interested in finding the Hall of Records, which director John Van Auken believes might be found in waters deeper than the Bimini Road -- more like 200-300 feet deep.
Van Auken, 63, a lifelong Cayce devotee, hopes the divers from Global Underwater Explorers can unlock the secrets.
Van Auken said the explorers are expected to conduct as many as four deep-diving missions near Bimini in 2010. Van Auken expects to spend between $20,000 and $50,000, securing a large mothership as the mission base for dives using rebreathers, high-definition video and digital mapping equipment, and possibly a two-person submarine.
``From [Cayce's] psychic, deep attunement to universal consciousness, he said one of the key temples with 32 stone tablets is off the coast of Bimini at the [edge] of the Gulf Stream,'' Van Auken said.
Van Auken said previous explorations in the area -- some using high-tech methods such as sub-bottom profiling and side-scan sonar -- have shown ``unnatural features'' that appear to have been constructed by humans. He is not bothered by the taunts of Atlantis naysayers.
``We hope this will prove to be a remnant of Atlantis,'' he said. ``With archaeologists, I don't use the `A-word.' I use `pre-Ice Age culture of some sophistication.' If you use the A-word, boy, you're out.''
Robert Carmichael, CEO of Brownie's Marine Group, based in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the leaders of the GUE expedition. While Carmichael doesn't exactly buy into the Atlantis theory, he and his colleagues have observed some of the ``unnatural features'' Van Auken mentioned -- long, curving sandy trails winding through the sides of steep, underwater cliffs 200 to 300 feet deep that look like mountain switchback trails or ski runs.''
``It's hard to think that would be naturally-occurring,'' Carmichael said. ``We need to go down there and measure the pathways and accurately survey them. There are some areas that look like terraces. There are buttressed caverns on the bottom of the wall. When we do have the opportunity to go back there, we'd like to poke into those caves at 220-300 feet deep to see if there's something in there.''
ENORMOUS LAND MASS
Carmichael does not dispute the notion that humans could have occupied Bimini around the last Ice Age 12,000 years ago. During that time period, he said, with water levels 300 feet lower than now, the Bimini Islands would have been one enormous land mass. A person standing on North Bimini back then could look across the Straits of Florida and glimpse Miami.
``That would cause prehistoric man to build a boat or a canoe and see what's over there,'' he said.
Indeed, native historian Ashley Saunders wrote in his 2006 book, History of Bimini Volume 2, that there is evidence the blocks of stone at the Bimini Road are similar to dry docks or breakwaters found in ancient, drowned Mediterranean port cities. Saunders called for more exploration and research.
Van Auken is happy to oblige.
``We're looking for evidence of human-made features,'' he said. ``It's fine to not believe it. There are some of us that have this gut feeling and enjoy the search.''
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Fishing, diving dramatically down in the Florida Keys
The following was in the local Keys newspaper, kinda makes you wonder......
The survey says: Fishing, diving dramatically down
NOAA study details drops over 12 years
Somewhere during a span of a dozen years, the Florida Keys lost 145,982 anglers.
Also gone: 63,477 snorkelers and 57,683 scuba divers.
Those declines in the number of visitors who head onto the water during their Keys trips are among findings cited in a socioeconomic and recreation study being prepared for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Bob Leeworthy, chief economist with the National Marine Sanctuary Program, and study authors will discuss their preliminary report in an 8 p.m. Thursday public session at the Murray e. Nelson Government and Cultural Center, mile marker 102.
Surveys of visitors found that in 1995-96, 534,388 said they went fishing at some point during Keys stay.
In the 2007-08 update, the number of anglers dropped to 388,406, a 27.3-percent decline.
"I can't say that's wrong," said Skip Bradeen, a veteran offshore captain in Islamorada. "I was doing fine until four years ago, then business pretty much tanked."
During the study period, overall visitation in the Keys increased about 7 percent from 3.06 million in 1995-96 to 3.27 million in 2007-08.
The number of people saying they visited museums or historic sites jumped 48.4 percent, and those attending festivals or other cultural events went up 43.6 percent.
Trips to dive or fish suffered.
"All water-based activities lost market share over the 12-year period," says the study.
"There was a big increase in the cruise-ship business, and those visitors aren't here long enough to book a dive or fishing trip," said Cece Roycroft of the Dive Key West operation.
Visitors who went scuba diving in the Keys dropped a reported 28 percent, from 204,644 to 146,961. Snorkeling activity dipped 8.8 percent, from 720,030 to 656,553.
Roycroft said she considers the dive-related information in the report outdated, since this spring's sinking of the USS Vandenberg wreck off Key West spurred a big increase in diver visits.
"The Vandenberg has been a great economic boost," she said. "It was a long and arduous labor to get it done but it couldn't have come at a better time."
The full study is scheduled to be released in February.
Other findings in the preliminary report:
The average stay in the Keys declined from six days in the winter to 4.9 days, and summer trips went from 4.2 days to 3.5 days.
Spending per trip also declined, but the total amount spent by all visitors increased by 22 percent.
In 1996, only 12 percent of Keys visitors reported their household income was more than $100,000. By 2008, that number grew t0 47.3 percent.
Also gone: 63,477 snorkelers and 57,683 scuba divers.
Those declines in the number of visitors who head onto the water during their Keys trips are among findings cited in a socioeconomic and recreation study being prepared for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Bob Leeworthy, chief economist with the National Marine Sanctuary Program, and study authors will discuss their preliminary report in an 8 p.m. Thursday public session at the Murray e. Nelson Government and Cultural Center, mile marker 102.
Surveys of visitors found that in 1995-96, 534,388 said they went fishing at some point during Keys stay.
In the 2007-08 update, the number of anglers dropped to 388,406, a 27.3-percent decline.
"I can't say that's wrong," said Skip Bradeen, a veteran offshore captain in Islamorada. "I was doing fine until four years ago, then business pretty much tanked."
During the study period, overall visitation in the Keys increased about 7 percent from 3.06 million in 1995-96 to 3.27 million in 2007-08.
The number of people saying they visited museums or historic sites jumped 48.4 percent, and those attending festivals or other cultural events went up 43.6 percent.
Trips to dive or fish suffered.
"All water-based activities lost market share over the 12-year period," says the study.
"There was a big increase in the cruise-ship business, and those visitors aren't here long enough to book a dive or fishing trip," said Cece Roycroft of the Dive Key West operation.
Visitors who went scuba diving in the Keys dropped a reported 28 percent, from 204,644 to 146,961. Snorkeling activity dipped 8.8 percent, from 720,030 to 656,553.
Roycroft said she considers the dive-related information in the report outdated, since this spring's sinking of the USS Vandenberg wreck off Key West spurred a big increase in diver visits.
"The Vandenberg has been a great economic boost," she said. "It was a long and arduous labor to get it done but it couldn't have come at a better time."
The full study is scheduled to be released in February.
Other findings in the preliminary report:
Monday, December 7, 2009
Cool “Free Stuff” to do in Key Largo
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys — John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is set to host a popular lecture series focused on Florida Keys history, archaeology, culture and environment. In their 19th year, the free, one-hour lectures are to be held inside the park's Visitor Center at mile marker 102.5 oceanside, Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Martin Moe is to present a lecture Feb. 10 on "Returning a Sea Urchin to the Reefs." Moe, an adjunct scientist with Mote Marine Laboratory and Education Center, plans to discuss the history and efforts of returning urchins to the reefs where they are essential to the ecological balance of life.
The topic turns to "Bottlenose Dolphins" for the Feb. 24 lecture. Jenny Litz of the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Program will review the behavior, population status and use of bottlenose dolphins as indicators of ecosystem health in South Florida waters.
From Rail to Trail: Flagler to Now" is to be featured March 24. Listeners can learn about Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad and its transformation into U.S. Highway 1 — now designated an All-American Road — leaving a route of historic places for recreation. Trail specialist Monica Woll of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is to share some fascinating history.
For all lectures, the park gates will open at 7 p.m., after normal operating hours. Visitors are urged to arrive on time to be assured of a seat in the auditorium, a wheelchair–accessible facility. Attendees may wish to bring a cushion for added comfort.
There is no charge to enter the park to attend the lectures.
For more information and a complete listing of lectures, contact the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Visitor Center at (305) 451-9570.
For information on accommodations in the Key Largo area, contact the area chamber of commerce at (800) 822-1088 or give us a call at Blue Iguana Charters
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Florida Keys Liveaboard Vessel
Many of you have done the day trips in the Florida Keys with Atlantis Dive Center, now come see what it's like to be on a real live aboard dive vessel. We now have the M/V KATE at our dock and welcome the addition of Blue Iguana Charters.
Enjoy every minute of the day being out and in the blue Atlantic Ocean for days on end. There's nothing like getting up in the morning with fresh brewed coffee and a hardy breakfast and walking to the back deck where your dive equipment sits ready for your first dive of the day. You enter the waters in the morning sun and explore a new world before you. As you return to the boat our courteous staff will be waiting to assist you and our galley cook will have fresh fruits, snacks and juices to enjoy. But don't get too comfortable yet, we still have another dive to do. (How sweet is that?)
Now it's time for a well deserved hot lunch break. The galley will serve up plenty to eat because we know you will be hungry. Now we fire up the engines and get off to our next destination. And while we're at it, let's throw a couple of fishing poles out to see what we can get. You won't see this on any of those day trips.
Now you're ready for the afternoon dive! Your tanks are full and there's a whole new area to explore with the sun high in the sky, you can see every detail on the ocean floor. The colors are brilliant and the sea life is abundant. But don't worry about time; we still have two dives this afternoon, with plenty of snacks and goodies always on hand. As you come up from your last dive, wash off the salt water and warm up in the Florida sun and get ready for the best meal of the day DINNER!.
Our galley cook goes out of her way to serve up the best home cooking in the Keys. Always good and always plenty to go around. And Pasha's famous Chocolate Cherry Cake for desert MMM!!!! Now time to rub your full bellies while still around the galley table and discuss all the wondrous sights that you have seen today, or lay up in the hammock on our spacious sundeck (what a day!).
Hey who's up for a night dive! Get out the flashlights and get in the water, there's all new stuff for you to see when the sun goes down. As we descend you will see the sea creatures of the night to emerge in a whole new setting, what a wonderful world it is down here. (Sometimes a little scary too.)
Back on board the vessel now and ready for a hot shower in our spacious bathrooms, it's time to sit back and watch a movie with hot buttered popcorn, or kick back and talk about what a exciting day we had. Getting sleepy? Snuggle into one of our comfortable bunks and the let the sea rock you off into your dreams of the day gone by.
6:30am the smell of fresh brewed coffee fills the boat, time to get up and do it all over again. Wow! What a life. What are we going to see today? A 500' long shipwreck sitting on the bottom, a huge coral head with a Moray Eel hiding inside, or how about a Spanish Galleon ballast pile from the 1733 fleet with the timbers still underneath.
It is all here in the Florida Keys and we would love to show them all to you. From a long weekend, to a wonderful week's adventure we are pleased to have you aboard. Please visit us at Blueiguanacharters.com and we will help you plan a trip of a life time.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Join Us May 17th to May 23rd for the Shipwreck Adventure of a Lifetime
The waters surrounding the Florida coast have been traveled for more than a thousand years. Our journey will take us from Key Largo to Key West exploring some of the many submerged vessels along these shores. What better way to get away from the cold. Come dive on the liveaboard dive vessel R/V Kate and the gang at Blue Iguana Charters in the Florida Keys. Bathed by the clear, warm waters of the Gulf Stream the Florida Keys is unquestionably one of the world's best shipwreck diving destinations. The number, variety, and size of the wrecks and the spectacular marine life that grows on them are unequalled.
Scuba Diving in warm, tropical water is great enough, but when you combine the perfect water conditions with amazing visibility and underwater life, then you have incredible scuba diving destinations. The list of shipwrecks that we have here are unparalleled to none.
These are just a few of the ships that we have to choose from to play with here in the Keys. Think about it no passports, no customs to deal with just great food, great friends and great diving.
Just a few of the Wrecks we have to choose from for our dives:
· USS Spiegel Grove
· USCGC Duane
· USCGC Bibb
· Eagle
· Benwood
· City of Washington
· Thunderbolt
· Adolphus Bush
· Cayman Salvager
· USS Curb
· Joe's Tug
· USAFS Gen Hoyt S Vandenberg
A few Reefs waiting for us to dive
- Carysfort
- The Elbow
- Dry Rocks
- Molasses
- Conch
- Davis
- Hen and Chickens
- Alligator
- Coffins Patch
- Sambo
No hidden fuel charges or port taxes
Price for this trip is $1,980 plus tax
2010 Upper Keys Shipwreck Medallion included in package
Price includes:
All meals, snacks, iced tea or lemonade, liveaboard accommodation,
dive tanks (aluminum 80's 3000PSI), air fills, weights and belts
NITROX available for extra charge
Please feel free to bring your own sodas, wine, beer or liquor
Advanced Diving certification and Dive Computers are required for deep wreck dives. If you are not Advanced certified contact me at info@blueiguanacharters.com and I'll tell you how we can make this happen during your trip.
You may board the "M/V KATE" anytime the evening of May 16th after 7:00 P.M. and put away your gear. This is a good time to meet the crew and get acquainted with the vessel. We have a great local pub next door called "Shipwrecks" this is a great place to have some great food at reasonable prices. We will meet back at the boat at 10:00 P.M. to address paperwork and briefings.
Sometime around 6:00 A.M. the "KATE" will head out and hook up to the mooring balls at the first dive site.
You will awake to a wonderful breakfast prepared by our infamous galley wench Pasha. As soon as you are ready you can start your first dive of the day. We normally pick a shallow dive, something in the 30 foot range or less, to get everyone acquainted with the Florida Keys water. (and your weight adjusted.) Dive two will be a deep wreck such as the USS Spiegel Grove followed by a reef dive. By now it should be close to lunchtime and Pasha will have us a hardy meal spread out in the galley. This is followed by two more dives, and then a nice home cooked dinner. Weather permitting after dinner we will do a night dive on a shallow reef. After that its time to anchor up in a nice protected area and settle in for the night, maybe watch a movie from Capt Scotty's collection or maybe watch some video that one of the guest shot during the day or just set up on the top deck and watch the stars and enjoy the night air.
The schedule for the whole week will be very close to this.
We will travel more than 200 miles up and down the wonderful Florida Keys coast line making our journey. We will be diving the best reefs and shipwrecks that the Keys have to offer. We will return to our dock around noon on May 23rd.
If you are interested in this trip give me a call at 561-385-2385 or drop me a email at info@blueiguanacharters.com .
Capt Scotty
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